Impact Stories

Meet Hayden

When MRI Kid’s Connection Coordinator, Jessica Gremo, first met Hayden and his family five years ago, Hayden’s mother, Nichole, was working at KFC and was having issues finding childcare. No daycare in the area would take Hayden because he was tube fed. Nichole thought she was out of options. She contacted Kid’s Connection, a program for children of all abilities, to see if she could enroll Hayden.

At that time the MRI Kid’s Connection did not enroll tube fed children; the cost was extensive and there were no staff trained to assist. However, in order to meet the needs of the community and the families we serve, MRI changed the policy. The MRI nurse trained staff on tube-feeding so Hayden could enroll in Kid’s Connection.

Hayden has flourished at Kid’s Connection through companionship from his staff and his peers.

“Hayden is a happy active young man. He has been enrolled in Kid’s Connection for 5 years. He is still tube fed on occasion but he is also able to eat by mouth now.”
-Jessica Gremo, Kid’s Connection Coordinator

With the support of Kid’s Connection After School and Summer Care, Nichole was able to not only keep her job, she was able to go back to school. She is now a nurse, and can work, knowing her son is well cared for at Kid’s Connection.